WIOA Youth Opportunity Services

WIOA AUTHORIZES THE FOLLOWING:

Out-of-school youth must be aged 16-24, not attending any school, and meet one or more additional barriers, which could include:

    • School dropout; within age of compulsory attendance but has not attended for at least the most recent complete school year calendar quarter
    • Holds a secondary school diploma or recognized equivalent and is low-income and is basic skills deficient or an English language learner
    • Subject to the juvenile or adult justice system
    • Homeless, runaway, in foster care or aged out of the foster care system, eligible for assistance under Section 477, Social Security Act, or in out-of-home placement
    • Pregnant or parenting
    • An individual with a disability
    • Low income person who requires additional assistance to enter or complete an educational service or to secure and hold employment.

In-school youth must be aged 16-21, attending school, low income, and meet one or more additional barriers, which could include:

    • Basic skills deficient
    • English language learner
    • An offender
    • Homeless, runaway, in foster care or aged out of the foster care system
    • Pregnant or parenting
    • An individual with a disability
    • A person who requires additional assistance to enter or complete an educational service or to secure and hold employment.

Youth Services

  • Tutoring, study skills, and dropout prevention
  • Alternative education
  • Paid and unpaid work experiences
  • Occupational skills training
  • Leadership development
  • Supportive services (transportation, child care, work uniforms, tools, etc.)
  • Adult mentoring for 12 months
  • Follow-up services for 12 months
  • Comprehensive guidance and counseling
  • Education offered concurrently with, and in the same context as, workforce preparation activities and training
  • Financial literacy education
  • Entrepreneurial skills training
  • Provision of labor market information
  • Activities that help youth prepare for and transition to post-secondary education and training

Five Youth Services Elements

  • Financial Literacy
  • Entrepreneurial skills training
  • Services that provide labor market and employment information in the local area
  • Activities that help youth transition to postsecondary education and training
  • Education offered concurrently with and in the same context as workforce preparation activities and training for a specific occupation or occupational cluster.

WIOA outlines a broader youth vision that supports an integrated service delivery system and gives a framework through resources to support in-school and out-of-school youth. WIOA affirms the commitment to providing high quality services for youth and young adults beginning with career exploration and guidance, continued support for educational attainment, opportunities for skills training in in-demand industries and occupations, and culminating with a good job along a career pathway or enrollment in post-secondary education.